Streamlining the Volunteer Orientation Process for a Charlotte, NC Nonprofit: A Process Improvement Project

Abstract

The purpose of the DNP project was to increase the number of volunteers at a Charlotte, NC nonprofit organization to meet the needs of families registered with the organization. The population of focus was new volunteer applicants to the organization. The DNP project focused on communication with volunteers, which targeted four areas of improvement, including the organization’s website, automated email correspondence, virtual orientation, and a volunteer tracking tool. The project's success was measured by tracking how many volunteers became active within the organization by attending a volunteer orientation. During the implementation phase, volunteer orientation participation increased by 24% when compared to pre-implementation attendance rates. The results demonstrated the importance of frequent communication with new volunteer applicants. Future recommendations suggest continued utilization of these methods, investment in a text-message marketing tool, and focus on volunteer retention.